It didn't take long for the armchair managers to come out in full force following the Indians' 4-0 loss to the Rays in the American League wild-card game Wednesday night.Terry Francona never should have started rookie Danny Salazar.Michael Bourn should have been bunting with two runners on base and no outs in the fifth inning.Jason Giambi should have been the designated hitter.Yan Gomes should have batted fifth, not eighth.You get the point.What can't be argued: Huge events like Wednesday night — 43,579 fans packed Progressive Field — are great for Cleveland.In 2010, Team NEO created a study on the economic impact of an Indians postseason game on the city.The nonprofit business and growth organization found that each Indians playoff game gives the Cleveland economy a boost of more than $1.8 million.The group defined the $1.8 million as “the retail or economic change due to the activity of the Indians organization.”The figure includes “spending for services provided directly” by the Indians and “goods and services necessary for visitors.”Translation: Every postseason game results in visitors from outside the city spending money at bars, restaurants, hotels and on parking.“Obviously, that's a direct economic benefit,” said David Gilbert, the president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Positively Cleveland. “That doesn't include some very significant indirect benefits such as all the national media coverage. There really is a benefit to the community.“When the Indians do well, you attract more events to the community,” Gilbert continued. “When you're competing for events around the world, part of what factors in is the image of the community. If you have winning teams, it certainly does add to how a city is viewed.”When I spoke with Gilbert on Wednesday afternoon, I did so with the anticipation that the Indians would be advancing to the AL Division Series against the Boston Red Sox.There would have been enough storylines — Francona managing against his former team; the Indians getting a chance to avenge their 2007 ALCS collapse — to fill up an entire “SportsCenter” segment (assuming nothing was happening that day regarding the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets or New York Yankees).Instead, the Tribe went home earlier than many of us thought they would.Still, Gilbert is very optimistic about the state of the city — and its professional sports teams.“What's so nice is there is such a renaissance. That's an overused term, but the city is on an enormous upswing,” he said. “You can't ignore it. Something like this (playoff appearance) just in many ways is icing on the cake. Whether you're a sports fan or not, it's hard not to be caught up in the excitement.“You see everyone wearing their Indians or Browns gear,” Gilbert continued. “There is a palpable difference in the mood of the community. Sports are something people get very passionate about. In many ways, our sports teams are as equally tied to the psyche of the community as any city. The backing of our teams is multi-generational, as opposed to places like Phoenix and Miami. Because Cleveland has had difficult times and been the butt of some unwarranted jokes for decades, you take extra pride when our teams are doing well. There is an enormous benefit to it that goes beyond the dollars and cents spent by the visitors at those games.”The Indians were 21-6 in September, and they needed every victory.It was a heck of a run, albeit one that ended on a disappointing note.The latter aspect is as much a part of Cleveland sports as anything.But the vibe feels different now.Even after Michael Bourn didn't bunt and Asdrubal Cabrera hit into a rally-killing double play.Make this Thursday night different, Brownies
The Browns are four-point favorites for Thursday night's game against the Buffalo Bills.If they win, they will be over .500 at the five-game mark for the first time since 2001.We can't tell you if the Browns will follow an Indians playoff exit with a prime-time stinker of their own, but we can confirm this fact: “Thursday Night Football” often is unwatchable.Since Week 2 of the 2012 season (the season opener last year was played on a Wednesday night), there have been 18 games on Thursday night — a figure that includes the now-annual Thanksgiving night game.The average margin of victory in those 18 games is 14.7 points.Thirteen of the 18 wins have been by double digits, and eight have been by at least 17 points.Wait, there's more.There has been an average of 4.2 turnovers in the 18 Thursday night contests.Ten of the 18 games, including the last five, have featured four or more turnovers.This season, there have been 17 turnovers in the four Thursday night games.The only close Thursday night contest this year — the Patriots' 13-10 win over the Jets in Week 2 — was a brutal game that included four Jets turnovers, four Patriots sacks and New England winning the game despite compiling only 232 yards of offense.One of the few Thursday night games since 2012 that was decided by a touchdown was the Browns' last prime-time appearance — a 23-16 loss at Baltimore on Sept. 27, 2012.That night, Brandon Weeden threw for 320 yards.He also tossed a back-breaking interception with the Browns trailing, 16-10, late in the third quarter. The pick was returned 62 yards for a touchdown by Cary Williams. All of the Browns' points that night were scored by the since-departed Phil Dawson and Trent Richardson.Let's hope Brian Hoyer is so unflappable he is immune to the Thursday Night Stench.You can follow me on Twitter for sports information and analysis, but not a breakdown of Nick Swisher's career batting against the Tampa Bay Rays.

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